MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Preaching, Fathurrahman Kamal, urged Muslims to reflect on Prophet Muhammad’s teachings of tolerance and compassion. These values are crucial in today’s diverse and complex world.
Speaking at the “Subuh Preaching: The Spiritual Movement of Ihsani Muhammadiyah in the Disruption Era,” hosted by the ‘Aisyiyah Provincial Board of West Java, Fathurrahman called on Muslims to learn from the Prophet’s legacy of tolerance and compassion and stressed the need to embrace these teachings in today’s society.
Prophet Muhammad’s life becomes a timeless example of how to build relationships with people of different faiths and backgrounds. Fathurrahman emphasized that the Prophe’s approach to humanity was both authentic and divinely guided.
A hadith mentions whoever oppresses non-Muslims will not experience the fragrance of paradise. This teaching, he explained, remained relevant throughout the time of the rightly guided caliphs.
Fathurrahman further illustrated the Prophet’s exceptional sense of justice and mercy through the story of Thumamah bin Utsal, a feared tribal leader of the Bani Hanifah. He was known for his harsh treatment of Muslims and had even plotted to kill Prophet Muhammad. However, after being captured by the Prophet’s companions en route to Mecca, Thumamah’s fate took an unexpected turn. Despite his cruel past, Prophet Muhammad treated him with remarkable kindness and respect.
“During his captivity, Prophet Muhammad ordered his family to serve Thumamah the finest food and milk, treating him as an honored guest. This was extraordinary, considering Thumamah was not just a prisoner but a man who had caused great harm to Muslims,” said Faturrahman on the preaching broadcast by TVMu YouTube Channel on Wednesday, September 25 .
Despite being in a position to exact vengeance, the Prophet chose a path of compassion, showing no signs of intimidation, verbal abuse, or physical harm.
After three days in detention, Thumamah was asked by the Prophet about his intentions. Instead of continuing his journey to Mecca as originally planned, Thumamah made a life-changing decision that he expressed his desire to embrace Islam.
The kindness and justice he experienced from Prophet Muhammad during his captivity had profoundly impacted him. What began as hatred toward Islam, the Prophet, and the city of Medina turned into love and devotion.
